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Experimental evaluation of expansive behavior of an old-aged ASR-affected dam concrete: methodology and application

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Abstract

Availability of computational power calls for the responsible use of mechanical models that faithfully represent material behavior even in complex cases, as is concrete undergoing Alkali–Silica Reaction (ASR) expansion. In this paper, a series of tests aimed towards obtaining meaningful data for mechanical characterization of an existing, old-aged, ASR-affected dam concrete are presented. These tests, consisting mainly in long-term measurement of free and confined expansions of core-drilled specimens extracted from different locations in the dam, are designed to provide data for a material model. A specific methodology is developed and applied, including procedures for test design, mechanical loading and data acquisition in harsh environmental non-laboratory conditions. Conclusions about the possibility of ASR-expansion mitigation through confinement are drawn from experimental data.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financed by projects “Validación, seguimiento y asesoramiento de ensayos en el hormigón de la presa de Belesar” (Soluziona Ingeniería, Universidade da Coruña and Fundación de la Ingeniería Civil de Galicia), directed by Dr. F. Martínez-Abella and Dr. Rodrigo del Hoyo Fernández-Gago, and FEDER 1-FD97-0324-C02-01, “Determinación del comportamiento del hormigón en presas de más de veinte años para su aplicación en estudios de mantenimiento y seguridad” (Soluziona Ingeniería, Universidade da Coruña and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya), directed by Dr. F. Martínez-Abella and Dr. Antonio Aguado. We also wish to acknowledge the personnel from the Dam Monitoring team from Soluziona Ingeniería, led by J. A. Rodríguez Legarreta and Javier Losada; from the Laboratorio de Construcción Juan Ignacio Vázquez Peña (Universidade da Coruña), and from the Centre of Technological Innovations in Construction and Civil Engineering (CITEEC, Universidade da Coruña), who played key roles in the design and operation of load and measurement systems. Lastly, the authors want to thank Pilar Alaejos, Miguel ángel Bermúdez and Jesús Soriano, from the Central Laboratory for Structures and Building Materials at CEDEX (Centro de Estudios y Experimentación en Obras Públicas, Madrid) for their help with petrographical and chemical analyses included in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Construction Technology, Universidade da Coruña, 15192, A Coruña, Spain

    Manuel F. Herrador & Fernando Martínez-Abella

  2. Centre of Technological Innovations in Construction and Civil Engineering, Universidade da Coruña, 15192, A Coruña, Spain

    Juan Ramón Rabuñal Dopico

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  1. Manuel F. Herrador
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  2. Fernando Martínez-Abella
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  3. Juan Ramón Rabuñal Dopico
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Correspondence to Manuel F. Herrador.

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Herrador, M., Martínez-Abella, F. & Rabuñal Dopico, J. Experimental evaluation of expansive behavior of an old-aged ASR-affected dam concrete: methodology and application. Mater Struct 41, 173–188 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-007-9228-y

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